City had issued intent-
to-terminate notice
The May 2 hearing between Interim Police Chief Franklin Boyd and patrol Officer Carmelita James never took place due to the fact that James resigned the job a few days before the meeting, officials said.
Deputy Police Chief John Allen said James, 26, reiterated that she got into an alleged physical scuffle with her girlfriend, Marissa Watchman, 26, on April 23 at the Shalimar Lounge, 2618 W. Highway 66. A four-year veteran of the Gallup police force, James was subsequently charged with assault on a peace officer and resisting, evading and obstruction, according to a police report on the matter.
“Officer James has resigned,” Allen said. “Prior to the start of the hearing, James submitted a letter of resignation.”
James was earning a little more than $39,000 a year in the police officer job. James and Watchman got into a verbal argument when James refused to go home with Watchman, Officer Dominic Molina wrote in a police report on the matter. The situation escalated to James running away from custody, failing a portable breath test and ignoring requests to walk into the McKinley County Detention Center so she could be booked.
James is the second city police officer to resign in as many months. Valerie Wilson resigned about a month ago when she and a girlfriend got into a scuffle at Fire Rock Navajo Casino after partying. Wilson is scheduled to go before Magistrate Ken Howard on May 19 on charges pertaining to that case.
By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent
